Have a look at the Caribbean Compass website. They have some cruising notes about the Columbian Coast which avoids the need to make the offshore jump from the ABC's to San Blas/Panama. Also check out the Panama Guide by Tom & Nancy Zeidler. There is also a Canadian Book about Panama, sorry can't remember the name, (find it at www.nauticalmind.com) which is better [a chum has a copy]. The Torro Bocas (spelling?) area looks great.
Spanish Water at Curacao is sheltered, but I found it didn't seem like a Caribbean Island (not so laid back), people were OK though and most spoke English (as opposed to Dutch or papiento~spelling again?). Sarifundes in Spanish water seeemed to be the meeting place for yotties.